Touching the Void is a book by Joe Simpson recounting the true story of Simpson's and Simon Yates' disastrous and near tragic attempt to climb the 6,344 meter (20,813 foot) Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. In 2003, fifteen years after it was first published, the book was turned into a documentary film of the same name directed by Kevin Macdonald. The film won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the 2004 BAFTA Awards and was featured at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

The story

---

Warning: Although Touching the Void is a true story, the next section contains details as to the content of the book and film, and may be regarded as a spoiler.

Although previously attempted, Yates and Simpson were the first people to ascend to the summit of Siula Grande via the almost vertical west face. Disaster struck, however, on the descent. Simpson slipped down an ice cliff and landed awkwardly, smashing his tibia into his knee joint and breaking it. The pair, whose trip had already taken longer than they intended due to bad weather on the ascent, had run out of water and gas (which could have been used to heat ice and snow) and needed to descend quickly to their base camp, about 3,000 feet below.

More on [ Touching the Void ]

Touching the Void - Twitter Search

Touching the void #madeupsexacts
TomasShore (Tomas Shore) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:41:05 -0000
Touching the void #madeupsexacts
Touching The Void #madeupsexacts
Mo_Jesus (Mark) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:15:50 -0000
Touching The Void #madeupsexacts
Touching The Void #madeupsexacts
fourstar (Adrian Lightly) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:56:20 -0000
Touching The Void #madeupsexacts
#madeupsexacts Touching the Void
ArmyofDave (Dave Turner) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:42:50 -0000
#madeupsexacts Touching the Void
刚刚看完登山纪录片《濒临深渊 Touching the Void》，看到最后几乎落泪。坚持的力量，震撼人心的经历，真实的心路历程。http://9911.ms/4Q48
huiyu (挥雨) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:17:32 -0000
刚刚看完登山纪录片《濒临深渊 Touching the Void》，看到最后几乎落泪。坚持的力量，震撼人心的经历，真实的心路历程。http://9911.ms/4Q48
reading "touching the void" at the airport. not sure if it makes me want to climb or never climb again. probably both.
elyg (Ely) Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:44:19 -0000
reading "touching the void" at the airport. not sure if it makes me want to climb or never climb again. probably both.

Subscribe to Touching_the_Void RSS feed